The Royal Music Association’s 2014 Research Students’ Conference

The RMA Annual Research Students’ Conference will take place at the University of Birmingham from 6 to 8 January 2014. We invite postgraduate students to submit proposals in the following categories:

1) Individual papers on any aspect of music research (up to 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of discussion). Presentations can include a live performance element or use recorded electronic music but you will be expected to provide instrumentalists and repertoire. Submissions should consist of a title and an abstract of up to 200 words. All abstracts for papers should fully and clearly describe the topic of the presentation and include the following information: background, research questions, aims, summary of content and significance.

2) New compositions, up to 6 minutes in length, for either instruments or the electroacoustic medium. Instrumental compositions will be performed in an open workshop by members of the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG). Available instruments are: flute (doubling alto flute and piccolo), clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), violin, cello, piano (limited preparations permitted), vibraphone/non-tuned percussion (one player; please check availability of less frequently used instruments). Scores will be accepted in all formats (e.g. conventional notation, graphic, text-based). For electoacoustic works the Department of Music’s 28 channel Dome Room system will be available and the following facilities will be provided: microphones and a laptop running Logic, Reaper, Supercollider and Max/MSP. Composers may bring their own laptops, a MOTU firewire interface will be provided. Works involving live performance are welcome.

The deadline for submission of abstracts and compositions is Monday 21 October 2013.

A cover sheet should be supplied with the following information: name; postal and email address; institutional affiliation; AV requirements; and any other special requests. The conference programme and registration forms will be released in November 2013.